Effectiveness of family therapy: a meta‐analysis

The effectiveness offamily therapy is assessed in a meta-analysis of 19 studies. At post-treatment, the average patient with family therapy is better offthan 76% ofthe patients with an alternative treatment, a minimal treatment or no treatment. This effect is comparable to that assessed of other psychotherapies at post-treatment. Our data suggest, that the effect of family therapy increases during the first year after treatment, but that the effect may diminish sharply 18 months after the end of therapy. However, more studies with extended follow-ups will be needed before firm conclusions about the long-term effectiveness of family therapy can be advanced.

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